New Pope Leo XIV is lifelong Chicago White Sox Fan, not Cubs supporter

Washington: For generations, weary fans of the Chicago White Sox joked that it might take divine help for the team to break through. Now, they might just have it — in the form of Pope Leo XIV.

The newly elected pontiff, formerly Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has emerged as perhaps the most heavenly figure to ever don allegiance to the South Side club. Prevost was chosen Thursday to lead the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers — and he brings with him a firm loyalty to the White Sox.

At first, both of Chicago’s baseball teams tried to claim the hometown cardinal as their own, sparking a playful tug-of-war between North and South Side loyalties. But the debate was put to rest when his brother, John Prevost, cleared the air during an interview with local station WGN.

“Yeah he was never, ever a Cubs fan, so I don’t know where that came from,” John said, referring to the team that calls Wrigley Field home. “He was always a Sox fan.”

John also shared how the family itself was a house divided — baseball-wise, at least.

“Our mother was a Cubs fan... and our dad was a (St Louis) Cardinals fan,” he said. “And all the aunts, our mom’s family, was from north side, so that’s why they were fans” of the Cubs.

His brother, now Pope Leo XIV?

“He rooted for the White Sox.”

The White Sox wasted no time basking in the papal spotlight. On X, the team posted a photo of a sign from their home ground, Guaranteed Rate Field (formerly Comiskey Park), declaring: “HEY CHICAGO, HE’S A SOX FAN!”
They added, “Well, would you look at that… Congratulations to Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV.”

Not to be outdone, the Cubs posted their own nearly identical sign at Wrigley Field claiming: “HEY CHICAGO, HE’S A CUBS FAN!” — though that appears to now be officially debunked.

In this, Leo XIV follows a papal tradition of sorts — mirroring Pope Francis, who has always been open about his devotion to Argentina’s San Lorenzo football club.

The White Sox last won the World Series in 2005, breaking an 88-year championship drought. With a Pope in their corner, perhaps another miracle season is on deck.